Chapter 93
While the two were so engrossed in admiring the scenery that they couldn't contain themselves, Xu Xian, whose fame had spread to the point that he even smashed his own Mercedes-Benz.
He thought to himself, it seems this father isn't enough, it's time to go find his mother again. He knew Xu Jing was furious with Xu Wanyi's two-faced behavior and would definitely be able to think of a more thorough solution to this matter.
So she drove at breakneck speed to the Yunman Hotel, where Xu Jing had been staying ever since she arrived in Haixi.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I handed the key to the doorman, I looked up and saw Xu Jing sitting in the ground floor restaurant. There seemed to be two other people at the table, and the three of them were talking about something with serious expressions.
"Mom, what's all the fuss about so early in the morning?" Xu Xuanming swaggered in, not even glancing at the two people beside him.
"It's getting late, almost eleven o'clock. We've almost finished our morning tea."
Xu Jing loved Xu Xianming when he was young, but as he grew older, Xu Xianming became closer to Xu Shenzhao, and Xu Jing's methods for Xu Wanyi gradually lost their effect on him. By the time she divorced Xu Shenzhao, Xu Jing had almost given up on having a proper conversation with her son.
"Who are these two?" Xu Xianming thought that he and Xu Jing were now on the same side, so he should at least show some courtesy.
"This is your Uncle An's daughter, An Yue, and this is the popular celebrity Zhao Junyi."
"Oh, Xiao An, I vaguely remember you. When you first came to our house, you were only this short. Now you're a grown woman. Why don't you come to our house anymore now that you're all grown up? You should visit us more often in the future."
Xu Xuanming was a few years older than Xu Wanyi and still remembered An Yue. He took a closer look at An Yue and found her to be a pretty young woman, so he greeted her with a bright smile.
"Hello, Brother Xianming, it's been a long time." An Yue didn't seem very enthusiastic and replied listlessly.
"This gentleman? Zhao... Junyi, hello! Did we meet at a party or a bar?"
"Hello, Mr. Xu!" Zhao Junyi was attracted by the Xu family's background and power. Even if Xu Xuanming called him a dog, he couldn't refute it, especially since it was just a mockery.
Xu Xuanming looked at Zhao Junyi's somewhat familiar face with a puzzled expression, then turned to Xu Jing, as if thinking, "Could it be that my old mother is still young at heart and has already started to eat young grass?"
“He’s an artist in your Aunt Hua’s company. He even said a while ago that he wanted to enter the film and television industry. He doesn’t even know this basic knowledge. It seems that your sister’s decision to cut your project was very reasonable.” Xu Jing was very angry about Xu Xuanming’s disrespectful behavior towards his parents.
"Don't mention her to me. If you and Dad hadn't failed to keep a close eye on her, would we be in this situation today?" Upon hearing Xu Wanyi's name, the fire in Xu Xuanming's heart burned fiercely again.
"How dare you talk to your mother like that? Don't you even think about what you've done? Look at the state you're in now, it's all Xu Shenzhao's fault!" Xu Jing was also very angry, but the target of her attack was Xu Shenzhao.
"Aunt Xu, let's continue our previous topic."
An Yue had specifically asked her father about the Xu family's situation a while ago. Although her father didn't know the details, he at least told her the general idea, so An Yue had a general idea. Seeing that the two were about to start arguing after only a few minutes of meeting, she quickly changed the subject.
“Sister An is the most sensible. But what exactly are you three plotting?” Xu Xuanming glanced at the three of them with an extremely frivolous expression.
"It's all because of your sister." Xu Jing took a sip of tea.
"Mom, it seems you really can't stand my sister being with a woman. But this time I agree with you. It's only natural for a woman to marry a man. She and that quack lawyer are really going against the natural order, they deserve to be struck by lightning."
Zhao Junyi glanced at An Yue awkwardly. An Yue frowned even more, thinking to herself that all members of the Xu family except Xu Jing were probably sick in the head, and Xu Xuanming was even more ill-mannered.
"Ahem, everyone has their own ambitions. Other people's business is their own concern. I only care about you and your sister." Xu Jing coughed twice to cover up her embarrassment.
"Brother Xianming, aren't there more unreliable men in this world? Men who keep mistresses, do drugs, solicit prostitutes, gamble, and engage in all sorts of despicable behavior are mostly men. How many women have you seen doing that?" An Yue was indeed a member of the new generation of young people. Not only did she dare to speak her mind, but she also inadvertently hit the nail on the head.
Xu Xuanming's expression changed, and a sinister glint appeared in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Jing spoke.
"Alright, your sister An really likes that wild lawyer you mentioned, while Junyi is quite fond of Wanyi."
"And you want Xu Wanyi and Li Ye to break up again! What a brilliant combination!" Xu Xuanming couldn't help but clap his hands in praise.
“Count me in. Let me tell you, my purpose is very simple: I can’t stand Xu Wanyi’s smug look. I’ll be responsible for anything that makes her unhappy.”
"Don't interfere here. We've almost finished discussing it." Xu Jing was not satisfied with Xu Xuanming's blatant way of dealing with his sister, especially since he said it in front of outsiders.
"Mom, don't think I don't know you. You're trying to use the same methods you used ten years ago, aren't you? Do you remember who helped you find that person? It was me, your son Xu Xuanming. I know more about these things than you do."
Xu Jing fell completely silent. An Yue and Zhao Junyi, unaware of what had happened, dared not speak, and an awkward silence ensued. After a while, Xu Jing finally spoke:
"Okay, you can join, but you can't affect our plans."
"Deal. Xiao Zhao, you're the driver, right? That requires some skill, go back and practice." Xu Xuanming looked at Zhao Junyi with a forced smile; this fool had no idea what he was about to do.
"Just mind your own business. Now everyone go back and wait for my instructions." Xu Jing didn't want Xu Xuanming to continue talking nonsense, so she announced the end of the meeting.
...
On Friday, Li Ye had just seen Xu Wanyi off on her flight to Beijing when he received a call from Xu Jing.
"Hello, is this Li Ye? This is Wan Yi's mother."
"Oh, Aunt Xu, hello! What can I do for you?"
Li Ye and Xu Jing are acquaintances; they've known each other for ten years and even met at a banquet recently. However, in front of Xu Wanyi, they both pretended not to know each other.
"Are you free tonight? Auntie would like to invite you to dinner. After all, you're with my daughter now." It seems that the forceful approach didn't work, so she's resorting to the emotional card.
Unfortunately, Li Ye had no choice but to accept this outcome. Xu Jing was right; she was Xu Wanyi's mother. Even disregarding blood relations, if she were to cause trouble at the company, it would be difficult to handle.
"Of course, Aunt Xu. When and where?"
"Six o'clock, Juyou, Suzhou Hall."
"Okay, see you later."
After hanging up the phone, Li Ye was a little puzzled. Although Juyou was a high-end local cuisine restaurant, it was located a little further south of Leguang Group. Logically speaking, someone like Xu Jing who liked luxury and grand occasions would not choose such a "remote" place.
Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. I'll just go and see what happens.
At 6 p.m., Li Ye arrived on time. “Suzhou Hall, reserved by Ms. Xu.”
After hearing this, the waiter immediately led Li Ye to the Suzhou Hall. When the door opened, Xu Jing and An Yue were sitting properly inside.
"What's going on?"
"Li Ye, come, sit down. I didn't tell you there were other people here, don't mind." Xu Jing used a feigned retreat to advance, silencing Li Ye.
An Yue didn't speak, but kept staring at Li Ye with a burning light in her eyes, and her eyes seemed a little moist.
"Oh, it's nothing. An Yue is an acquaintance too. We're just having a meal together; it's like friends meeting up."
"Attorney Li, it's been a long time." An Yue withdrew her gaze and greeted Li Ye calmly.
"Oh, hello, it's been a long time! How have you been?"
Li Ye was initially worried that An Yue was still fixated on something, but apart from the look in her eyes when she entered, her behavior seemed normal, which put him at ease.
"I'm still working for the family business, but not in the legal department. My dad wants me to go to the marketing department to learn."
“Your dad is right. You are the only daughter in the family, and you will inherit the family business in the future. You have to take care of every aspect of the company.” Xu Jing, who was experienced, immediately replied.
"However, I've found that many things are related to the law. There are so many laws and regulations governing biopharmaceuticals, and there are also many restrictions on market development and sales. Attorney Li, if I encounter anything I don't understand in the future, can I ask you?"
"Of course, anytime." When it comes to business, Li Ye becomes much more lively, and even his tone becomes relaxed.
"Alright, let's not talk about work for now, let's eat first. Waiter, bring the food." Xu Jing, being the host, naturally took the lead in setting the pace of the meal.
The group chatted for a while longer. Xu Jing and An Yue seemed quite natural and didn't bring up Xu Wanyi or anything like that. Just when Li Ye thought that Xu Jing might have really changed, she finally saw the Xu Jing she knew.
"Hey, Li Ye, so many years have passed, and look at you, you're with Wan Yi again. What happened to that girl from ten years ago?"
Li Ye's chopsticks, which were picking up food, froze instantly. She lowered her head, and the light shining down from above obscured her expression.
"She is doing well, in good health, and living a happy life. Thank you for your concern, Aunt Xu."
"I didn't expect you two were still in contact! I just asked casually, since it was somewhat related to me. I'm just glad she's living happily now."
Xu Jing's words stirred up memories she thought were long buried, bringing back past emotions. This time, she didn't reply.
"Hey, I'm going out to take this call. An Yue, you and Li Ye continue eating." A phone call came in, and Xu Jing looked at her phone and went out.
"Attorney Li, are you alright?"
Although everything was part of Aunt Xu's plan, An Yue felt that Li Ye's aura had become sharp and cold, and his motionless staring at his bowl made her inexplicably worried.
"I don't quite know what happened, but my dad told me that if you encounter something you can't figure out, the best way is not to think about it, just have a drink, and everything will be over when you sober up." As he spoke, he poured a full glass of baijiu for Li Ye.
Without even glancing at the glass, Li Ye took it and downed it in one gulp. He placed the empty glass aside, and An Yue silently poured him another, which he also drank in one go. After repeating this several times, Li Ye finally managed to suppress the sudden, stormy surge of emotions within him.
He thought of Xu Wanyi again, and the words she had said on the balcony. He thought to himself, "At her age, how can she still be so willful and reckless? She actually listened to An Yue, that little girl, saying that alcohol can cure all sorrows. That's just something to fool children. The past is the past, and there's still a lot to face in the future with Wanyi."
As An Yue prepared to refill Li Ye's glass, Li Ye covered it with his hand, saying, "Thank you, An Yue. I think that's enough. Enough to forget about the unhappy things."
An Yue was a little stunned. She didn't expect Li Ye to play his cards like this. Xu Jing had clearly said, "As long as you mention that girl to Li Ye, she will definitely let you drink one glass after another."
Since Li Ye said she didn't need it, An Yue couldn't force her to drink it.
"Well, could you tell me the story of the girl Aunt Xu mentioned?"
"Well, it's all in the past. There's really nothing to say about it. Everyone has been young and impetuous."
Li Ye immediately changed the subject: "Hey, why did Aunt Xu take so long on the phone? I hope nothing's happened. I'll go check on her."
“No need to go. Aunt Xu just told me that she had an emergency and left first, and asked me to chat with you a little longer.” An Yue’s face was hidden in the backlight, and her tone was unusually calm.
Li Ye's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition rose within him. He had been so engrossed in his own world that he had forgotten what occasion this was.
She felt that Xu Jing deliberately paired her up with An Yue, and there must be another plan in mind.
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